Kensington Market building remains unrepaired a year after collapse, leaving tenants and neighbours exposed
Partial demolition on Dundas Street West has left two buildings derelict for more than a year. Owners say they cannot start repairs until permits are approved; neighbours say the site is a safety and public‑health hazard.
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By Torontoer Staff
More than a year after the city demolished parts of three buildings on Dundas Street West when their facades began to detach, the row remains partly destroyed and unsecured. Property owners say they cannot move forward because permits are still under review. Neighbours and former tenants describe vandalism, theft and drug-related activity at the site.
The condition has left displaced residents seeking support and local businesses worried about safety, while community groups call attention to a longer pattern of deferred maintenance in the downtown core.
What happened and who owns the buildings
The buildings affected sit on Dundas Street West at Augusta Avenue in Kensington Market. Owner Xue Qin Lin holds two of the properties. Before the collapse, the ground floor housed two salons and a convenience store, with multiple apartments above. In August 2024 parts of the facade began to fail and city crews demolished the sections that were becoming detached. No one was injured, but 22 tenants were displaced and some businesses had to close.
City records show a history of permit issues at the site. Ten years earlier, Lin was cited for adding residential units without a permit and ordered to address unsafe conditions. Inspectors later closed a file in 2019 after determining repairs had made the building structurally sound. The later collapse underlines how quickly problems can return when a building is already compromised.
Why repairs are delayed
Lin says she has retained an architect and wants to repair the buildings, but that she cannot proceed without a city permit. “We have no permit, no power to do anything,” she said. “Inside, it’s very terrible, everything is broken, garbage is everywhere.”
City council member Dianne Saxe placed responsibility for the delay on the property owners. “The building permit process is still ongoing,” she said. “The applications aren’t complete and ready for approval. The owner submits stuff, staff review it, they say ‘It’s not good enough’ and send it back and wait for them to resubmit.”
A city spokesperson, Alexandra Dinsmore, said the city is still reviewing Lin’s application and will grant a permit “once it complies with Building Code and other applicable law.” She declined to provide further details on what, specifically, is holding up the application.
How the site is affecting neighbours and local businesses
Shop owner Saikou Saho, who runs the African drum store next door and has been in the neighbourhood for 27 years, says people arrive “every morning” to break into the ruins and strip materials with power tools. He described the area as having become a hub for illicit drug use, with needles appearing outside the damaged buildings.
If it was up to Lin, she would rebuild it quick.
Saikou Saho, neighbouring shop owner
A neighbouring owner, Yu Mei Wu, is also trying to secure permits. Online records show an application from October 2024 flagged unspecified fire-code deficiencies and remains under review. In November, Wu’s agent sought retroactive approval for an illegal residential unit at the rear of the building and asked the city’s committee of adjustment to bundle that request with separate repair permits. The committee deferred the matter, with member Larry Clay noting the file’s long non compliance.
There’s no urgency right now, quite frankly. It’s been out of compliance for three years. It may be better for the panel to have a complete picture of what you’re proposing.
Larry Clay, committee of adjustment member
The city ordered an engineer’s evaluation of Wu’s building after a tarp covering the demolished front tore, creating a risk that debris could blow into the street. The order, issued on Dec. 30 with a Jan. 5 deadline, remained posted weeks later.
Where displaced residents stand
Former residents say the collapse and the slow pace of repairs exposed a fragile choice for people with limited housing options. One former tenant, who asked to remain anonymous because she was an asylum seeker at the time, described rushing home to find the facade tipping over the sidewalk and neighbours evacuated. She feared losing immigration documents in the collapse and said the situation felt surreal.
It was unbelievable. I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that this was happening in Canada. This is a developed country and city.
Former tenant, speaking on condition of anonymity
Three days after the evacuation some residents were allowed back briefly to retrieve belongings. The Canadian Red Cross assisted others with temporary housing. Community groups such as Friends of Kensington Market have pushed for quicker action from owners and stronger enforcement from the city.
It’s disturbing to see not just that building, but so many in the downtown core essentially be left to fall apart, instead of having the landlords be held accountable for the overall safety of the building.
Serena Purdy, co-chair, Friends of Kensington Market
Purdy added that deteriorating buildings often create an unstated bargain: lower rent in exchange for risky conditions. She called that a “terrible choice between negative temperatures outside and technically having a roof over your head, but one that might collapse.”
Practical steps for tenants and neighbours
- Document damage and communications with landlords, including photos and dates.
- Report safety risks to the city via 311 and request records of your report.
- Contact community legal clinics or tenant advocacy groups for help with displacement and rights.
- Keep copies of identification and important documents in a separate, safe location.
- Reach out to community groups and non-profits, such as the Canadian Red Cross, for emergency assistance.
For neighbours concerned about public safety, follow city notices on site and notify the municipality if temporary protections such as hoarding or tarps are compromised.
What to watch next
The next steps will hinge on the building permit reviews, any required engineering reports and decisions from the committee of adjustment if retroactive approvals are sought. Until those matters are resolved, the site is likely to remain unsecured and disruptive for residents and businesses in the area.
The case in Kensington Market highlights tensions between property owners, municipal approvals and community safety. For now, neighbours and displaced tenants continue to press for a clear timeline to restore the buildings and secure the block.
Kensington Markethousingtenant rightscity permitspublic safety
